“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for Me?'”
John 13:37-38a
“After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, ‘This man was with Him too.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know Him.’ A little later, another saw him and said, ‘You are one of them too!’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, ‘Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about.’ Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter…”
Luke 22:56-61a
Peter is relatable on many levels, but one here that I want to capture.
Peter’s desire was to follow the Lord with all his might–no matter where that led him. He had been with Christ for an extended period of time. He had seen Him perform miracles that are beyond description. He had witnessed our Lord rebuke the very people He came to save. He had observed righteous anger. He had even shared holy days with Him that tied them to the very people God rescued from oppression and slavery in mighty acts that were both physical and spectacular. However, he did not yet know the Lord as he would soon know Him. He did not see beyond what Christ could and was doing before his very eyes. He knew Christ only in part. His actions proved it.
What’s more, as far as Peter–and all the disciples for that matter–were concerned, Christ’s rule on earth was soon to be established. This obviously meant no more Roman oppression and once again God’s physical and spectacular acts of deliverance for all to behold would soon ensue. The thought of their Rabbi and Teacher going away seemed merely temporary and brief. Notice their question that Luke captures in Acts 1:6, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?'” In other words, “Lord, we know that we’ll see Your kingdom in our lifetime–it is right now, correct?”
Like us, they moved with viscerality. Their world was wrapped up in their senses. He’s flabbergasted the religious leaders, He’s evaded governmental suppression, He’s attracted thousands upon thousands to hear the words fall from His mouth, and of course now He’ll set us free and give us back our earthly reign! Won’t He?
Of course, He would not delay in bringing His kingdom to earth. Would He?
Peter’s words must have echoed deeply within his mind when the Lord looked at him. Three times, he denied His Lord. His actions betrayed his words. “I will lay down my life for You…”
No, instead what fell from his mouth when pinched by the potential of association with a Man destined to die was instead an obstinate declaration, “Woman, I do not know Him.” He does not know Him? He had walked with Him, he had broken bread with Him, he had seen Him heal is mother-in-law and raise the dead. He does not know Him?
Reality is, he didn’t know Him.
He knew about Him. He knew what He could do. He knew the effects of Christ. He knew is power. But, he didn’t know Him.
Our Lord knew that. Oh, what love. He knew. He knew that Peter did not know Him.
“The Lord turned and looked at Peter…”
“And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ‘Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”
One look from our Lord and Peter knew.
He knew that he did not know Him. He knew that he only knew about Him. His knowledge of our Lord was limited to his physicality. “Look what He does…look what I will do.” But, he didn’t know Him.
Oh, what grace our Lord showed to Peter as He reinstated him back into His service. What abundant and amazing grace!
“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me…?”
John 21:15a
Another meal shared. Christ’s physical display of miraculous work manifested, and now He turns to address Peter. “…do you love Me?”
Peter quips back, “…you know I love You.” However quick with his words, Peter would not be permitted to speak in haste again. The time for this was over. As one commentator pointed out, “Off-the-cuff replies and well-meaning superficial responses to the risen Lord will not work in the call of Jesus to the life of discipleship.“1
Our Lord would press him deeper. A total of three times Peter will be asked this question. And, each time Christ will instruct Peter on his new mission. No more fishing. No more running.
Reengage. Reestablish. Refocus. Realign. Remember.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Do You Love Me…
1 Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 334.
— April 19, 2022